SUDDENLY A STANDARD?

"CLEVELAND -- The man accused of holding three women captive in his house for more than a decade could face the death penalty if it's determined he is responsible for the deaths of the victims' unborn children, prosecutors said Thursday."  (Source: USA Today)

Please help me get this straight. 

In America --

....where slaughter of the unborn on demand "women's rights" is available for just a couple hundred dollars....

....where we provide public funding (your tax dollars) to the world's largest abortion provider every year....

....where teenage girls can get abortions or abortion pills without written consent of their parents, while same-said teens cannot receive aspirin in school....

....where its citizens cry for the harshest punishment for the kidnapping, monstrous pedophile in this case....

....where we NOW SUDDENLY HAVE MORAL STANDARDS AGAINST THIS PERVERT FOR ABORTING SEVERAL PREGNANCIES OF HIS KIDNAPPED VICTIMS???

Please help me make sense of this.

At most, I see an violent assault causing serious injury to the women themselves -- not the unborn.  That's according to our nation's public policies, anyway.  After all, the babies were HIS, too.  Doesn't Castro have the right to abort his own children?  We cry about a woman's rights; but what about a man's???  Would it have been more acceptable if he had driven the kidnapped-and-raped victims to an abortion clinic and paid to have the abortions performed by a "doctor"???

I do not argue against the most severe punishments for this man.  I agree with the death penalty...but not due to the abortions he caused. 

A hypocritical, inconsistent nation we are, America. 
We must make up our minds. 
We cannot have it both ways! 

"COULD YOU SPARE SOME TIME?"

"Hey, old friend, how have you been?  I haven't heard from you much lately.  I'm just wondering if you're doing OK."

"Oh, hey, thanks for checking on me.  I really appreciate it.  Yeah, I've be super busy lately.  You know -- work, family.  The usual.  Other than that, I'm doing pretty good."

"That's good.  I've heard about some of your new job position you were hoping for.  Can you tell me about it?"

"Thanks!  I absolutely love the new assignment examining firearms, bullets, cartridge casings, etc.  I'm still in the early stages, but there's so much I've been reading, studying, and writing lately.  It keeps me on my toes and it challenges me.  But it's been so much fun!"

"What about your physical fitness?"

"I've been training hard.  Running a lot.  Hittin' the gym.  I've been training for a half marathon, as well as the Tough Mudder.  I've been pretty happy with my progress, but I'm starting to really feel the effects of my age in my lower back.  It keeps me up at night."

"No kidding?  I haven't heard about that.  Why didn't you say something?"

"Nah, you're too busy.  You've got better things to worry about.  You feed the poor, work in homeless shelters, help the needy.  You don't have time for my little problems."

"I have plenty of time for you, my friend.  Well, did you at least get the letters I sent you?  I worked hard on them, and I meant every word.  I was hoping you'd answer."

"Yes, thank you!  I received them.  But they were just so long...most of them, anyway.  So I kind of skim through them here and there when I have a chance.  You know, a sentence or two.  But I've been piecing it all together rather well, I think."

"Oh.  I was hoping you'd put a little more effort into it than that.  I did."

"I know.  I'm sorry.  Tell ya' what.  I'll start doing that first thing tomorrow."

"Why tomorrow?  What's holding you back today?"

"I'm sorry, I've just been so busy.  Not only do I have to wake up early to get to work, I also wake up an hour earlier -- 4:25 am -- to make it to the gym for a workout before my 12-hour work day including drive time.  Then when I get home, I spend time with the family, wrestle with the boys, and talk to my wife about our day.  By the time we put the kids to bed, my brain is mush and I just want to vejj out and watch some Tiger baseball or Duck Dynasty or something.  Then it's off to bed to do it all over again the next day.  You know what I mean?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact I do.  I'm just hearing excuses, though.  But I know busy.  I have a world to run, Michael.  I've been visiting people in Boston who've had their limbs blown off by a couple bombs.  Remember that?  And you should see what their families are enduring right now.  Some of them don't have enough sick time built up at work to take the day off so they can attend to the needs of their fallen comrades and family members.  I know about busy.

"And have you heard about what's happening in Sudan?  That carnage has been going on for a long time, now.  I've been crying with the broken-hearted, encouraging survivors, raising up strong leaders.  I know about busy.

"I've been raising up willing servants to travel to some far-off lands that have never seen the wonder of electricity or running water, who bathe in the same water in which they relieve themselves.  How would you like to like to live in those conditions?

"How would you like your own children to ignore you on a consistent basis after all you've done for them?  How would you like your wife to ignore your love letters and only 'piece them together' here and there when she has a spare moment?

"I've created all of this beauty you see around you: Warm sunshine.  Billowy clouds.  Refreshing rain.  Sunsets.  Mountains.  Oceans.  Snow.  Crisply cool starry nights.  Friendships.  Love.  But when I look upon all that I've made, I'm most pleased with people -- because I made you in my image.  But when I look upon all those people, you're busy scurrying around -- too busy to take in all the beauty.  Instead, you're shopping at the mall for the latest gadget.  Hurrying through the grocery store checkout lane without taking the time to notice the cashier is crying because her son died in Iraq.  You're pumping gas without noticing the guy rifling through the garbage cans trying to find returnables to scrape up some spare change for a meal tonight.  You're sitting in traffic jams cursing at other drivers when the person on the side of the road is going to get fired for being late to work.  You're preparing for seemingly important business meetings while ignoring the fact that your boss has cancer.  You're training your physical bodies while ignoring the health of your souls.

"Believe me.  I know busy.  But I also know you.  And I want to be known by you.  Could you spare some time, friend?"

I WILL MISS YOU, HANNAH-DOG (you've taught me a lot):

Hannah-dog,

I remember the day we brought you home.  It's like it was just yesterday.  You were so tiny, so cute.  I remember the potty training, the chewing, the whining and crying.  You slept on my leg as a puppy, and still on my lap when you got to 60-some pounds.  Oh, and that "puppy breath".  I loved all of it.

And I will now sadly miss all of it.

 

As you got older, you became my jogging companion.  We logged a lot of miles together -- on the streets and through the woods.  I remember when some old lady scolded me for taking you running with me...but you led the way, pulling me, and were probably in better shape than me.

 

The trait I will miss most, however, is your constant face-licking and tail-wagging. In fact, if my face was a lolly-pop, you would have reached the middle in no time.  I found it annoying a lot of times, but now I wish I would have let you do it more.  All the face-licking earned you a very special place in my heart.

 

Last night, I lay on your dog bed right next to you and cried.  I wept because I knew we would have to take you to Dr. Gaide and put you down.  I wept bitterly, but you licked all those tears off my face anyway.  I doubt you knew why, but it didn't seem to matter to you.  I simply let you lick and lick and lick.  I knew I was going to miss it.  I hated the thought of you not being there to "fwap" your tail on things when I got home from work.  I hate the thought of you not greeting me any more.



You taught me a lot over the years, and reinforced them in these last few hours before you died.

1) FRIENDLINESS: I need to be more friendly to people, and show them I care.  You didn't pick and choose who you let pet you.  It was all good to you. 

But for some reason, I'm highly selective.  I should double-check my motivations and make sure I am not friends only with those who can benefit me.  I have a suspicion that one day I'll wish I had been more friendly to the friendless, yet I doubt I'll ever wish I hadn't been so friendly.  I will try harder to be more Christ-like and be a friend to the friendly, the unfriendly, and the friendless.  Thank you, Hannah-dog.

2) COMPASSION: I can't remember how many times I cried over various life-issues, and you were there to lend a comforting presence to me. You just laid your head on my lap, somehow knowing that I was hurting. Funny thing is, you never had to say a word. But it worked.  Even this morning on the trip to the vet, you quietly laid your head next to my leg as I cried.  I'm not sure you knew what was about to transpire, but your presence seemed to suggest, "It's all good, friend." 

When people hurt, it matters.  No matter how big or how trivial the issue may appear to me, their hurting is significant.  I need to be more Christ-like and hurt with them; pity them; grieve with them.  I have a co-worker who had to bury his 6-year old daughter at Christmas.  How horribly tragic.  I cannot imagine coming home to an empty seat at the dinner table every day.  It's bad enough coming home to a now-empty garage.  Thank you, Hannah-dog.

3) HAPPINESS: You wagged and licked just at the mere sighting of a friendly face.  You were always so happy.  Every time the UPS driver came to the house, you would climb into his cab, hoping for a treat.  He'd pet you, you'd wag your tail, and run off to a shaded tree to eat the treat he gave you.  I could always tell when you were "smiling" -- you just had that look on your jowls.

I will not be afraid to show my pleasure in people and events.  When people are happy, I will celebrate with them!  I will celebrate the good things God has given us, and the blessings He gives.  Why should I be timid when showing great delight?  Thank you, Hannah-dog.

4) FORGIVENESS: It didn't matter if I scolded you for something -- whether you deserved it or not.  You had a way with forgetting all about it just a few minutes later and licked my face in pleasure, showing me that I was still your friend. 

Sometimes, I like to hold onto memories of past hurts.  I know I need to forgive and put past hurts where they rightfully belong -- in the past.  God forgave me even while I was the worst of sinners.  And today, I'm a friend of God, and He continues to forgive when I fail.  I will work to be more forgiving.  Thank you, Hannah-dog.

5) COMPLAINING: I remember the time you chased after a ball and (as we would find out the next day) you got stabbed in the "armpit" by a stick.  It was a deep gouge and you were favoring that leg all day.  I didn't understand why, so I finally looked and saw the deep puncture wound.  You didn't whine, cry, or complain.  You just chased the ball -- albeit with a limp. 

I, on the other hand, cry and whine and complain when I have a simple head cold.  When I'm miserable, I want others to know, and I want others to share in my misery.  I have friends in worse condition than me, and they live with a smile on their faces.  I love that!  I read a book by a Navy Seal who said their motto is, "Suffer in silence".  I would do well to practice that more often.  Thank you, Hannah-dog.


THANK YOU FOR BEING MY FRIEND, HANNAH-DOG.  I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU. 

THANK YOU.

GOODBYE.

"Life on the Other Side: A Psychic's Tour of the Afterlife" by Sylvia Browne (A book review in personal letter format)

Sylvia, I recently listened to the audiobook format of your book, “Life on the Other Side: A Psychic's Tour of the Afterlife”.  First, I compliment you for reading it; not many authors read their own work.  But I'd like to ask you a few questions about the book.  For relative brevity sake, I'm going to narrow my questions to 8 general ideas.

Before I start, I  admit that I listened from an Evangelical Christian perspective, and I believe the bible is the supreme and final authority on matters of faith and morality.  I believe I can ask these questions of you because early in your book you mentioned your Methodist-Catholic-Jewish up-bringing, as well as referring to the bible quite frequently.  It appears you have some kind of biblical foundation, and that is my grounds for questioning. 

1) You wrote, “by whatever name we call him, we are all praying to the same god.”  I'd like to offer some simple facts to shed light on my next question.  Muslims believe that god is only one -- no Jesus, no Spirit, not even Azna -- the feminine half of the godhead you said exists.  On the other hand, Hindus believe there are millions of gods who all have differing functions.  Christians, though, say Jesus Christ is fully God, as is "Father God", and that he died to save sinners from sin.  

Yet Muslims say Jesus Christ never died, and that he was only a mere man, like Muhammad, and never redeemed man from sin.  They say Jesus was not god.  I could continue, but I’m sure you get the point.  If each of these religions say contradictory things about God, then how can they all be true at the same time?

2) You said houses of worship and all religions coexist in peace on "the other side", and that we could learn something from that fact.  If the bible is true, however, then how can/will all religions be represented in “paradise” when they disagree?  Is "father god" schizophrenic in making various commands and demands, but then ignoring those same requirements in the afterlife? 

For the sake of argument, let's assume Jesus was wrong in what he said about being the way, the truth, and the life, and the only way to the Father – Yahweh – (not Azna).  If he was wrong, and Muhammad was right, then all followers of Jesus stand to face the harshest of hell in their judgment by Allah.  But if Jesus was right, then how could a person who rejects him share in his paradise?

3) There was a brief moment when you mentioned “Jesus” and later “Christ”, but never were the two mentioned together.  There are many who admit to the historical man, Jesus; and many who suggest “Christ” is simply a principle inside every person.  But who is Jesus Christ to you?   After all, you liked mentioning him, as well as the bible that speaks about him.  Was he the promised Messiah of God who would take away the sin of those who trust in him?  Or was he someone or something else?

4) Early in your psychic experience with your spirit guide, “Francine”, she asked for your permission to channel through you.  Although she promised that you would be in full control of yourself, you initially resisted her.  You then described a hypnotic episode when Francine took complete control of you without your permission.   When you questioned her about it, she said, “I told you I would be looking for the opportunity to do it.”  She lied to you, because she never said she would be looking for the opportunity.  You said she merely asked you.

So, if you had full control of the channeling, then why didn't Francine honor your initial wishes to not channel through you?  Additionally, why did you have to be told by those who witnessed the initial channeling what happened after she relinquished control back to you, if indeed you had full control of yourself?  

5) You often referred to the life-and-death cycle as a “return home”.  Early in the book you said we start out on the other side and then incarnate flesh to live here on earth for a time, and then return to the other side, or “home”, as you call it.  And the cycle continues via reincarnation.  Where do you find biblical support for a notion of human beings living past lives?  Again, you referred to the bible frequently, so the question seems appropriate.  Do you believe what the bible proclaims about the finality in death and the judgment that follows? 

6) While on the topic of evil, you mentioned the abyss, but only in terms that it is merely a temporary “left-door” holding area until a spirit is reincarnated.  Is it correct, then, to interpret your  your view as though the worst of the worst souls will not spend eternity in the abyss, but simply reincarnate to wreak more havoc on earth in cyclical fashion?  Are there any consequences for those who reject God?

7) Finally, several biblical references (2Kings 21:6; 2Kings 23:4; 2Chronicles 33:6) exist referring to “spiritism” as being an evil profession, not a good one.  Since you are a self-professed modern-day spiritist, what is your opinion about the bible’s condemnation of the practice?  Does the bible have any authority over your career path?

Once again, Ms. Browne, I do thank you for taking the time to read your book so I could listen.  I do hope you'll reply.  I understand you are busy, so if you only have time to answer one question, will you make it this one, please?  Who do you say Jesus Christ is?

Thank you,

8) PS, at the end of the book you said Jesus and all other messiahs that have appeared throughout time are alive and well “on the other side”, and they’re all working together.  If the bible is true in what it says, and if Jesus proclaimed from the Cross, "It is finished!", and if Muhammad of Islam said he came to complete that which Jesus failed to accomplish.... WHO DO YOU BELIEVE?

Forgiveness - Matt Chandler Sermon Jam

"Humble Orthodoxy", by Joshua Harris

A good friend of mine recently posted a quip on Facebook, “Drag someone kicking and screaming to the truth, and they will hate you and the truth.”  He’s an atheist, and I think he has it right. 

That’s the main thrust in “Humble Orthodoxy”, Joshua Harris’s new release.  It’s a little book that packs a big punch.  Orthodoxy is “right thinking about God.”  Unfortunately, however, the battle for orthodoxy has caused great divide and great loss.  “Humble Orthodoxy” pits two extremes against one another. 

On one side is arrogant orthodoxy, that position that seeks to be right at all costs.  The question Harris poses is this: Does correct orthodoxy “necessarily lead to being argumentative, annoying, and arrogant?” (p.3)  JD Greear wrote in the Forward that he wonders if Christians too frequently tend to “hold to the truth of Christ with the Spirit of Satan.”  On the other side, however, is humble orthodoxy – caring deeply about truth, but defending and sharing it with compassion and humility (p.5).

The defense of the truth is like a tense walk on a tight-rope across a great canyon.  We must walk straight, but we must also walk carefully.  An oft-repeated question in the book was, “Can we defend the truth without being jerks?”  How can we be “right” humbly without asserting arrogant “rightness”?

One section of the book that I found most helpful came at a time when Harris forced us to look inside our hearts and ask difficult questions when we disagree theologically – let’s say on Calvinism vs. Arminianism.  Citing the prayer of the Pharisee (who puffed up in pride) and the sinner (who beat his chest), we can ask, “Does my attitude look more like that of the Pharise’se, or the sinner’s?”   Can I ask – while I may disagree with a friend – “is what I believe influencing how I live?  Does it truly matter to me?  Or am I only seeking to be right?”  We ought to be less concerned with whether others are being faithful to God’s truth and more concerned about whether we are being faithful to God? (p.33)

In the end, “when it comes to orthodoxy, it’s not about you or me.” (p.15)  Instead, it is about God’s glory, for it is His truth in the first place, and is a gift from Him to us.  “There’s a fine line between contending for the truth and being contentious.” (p.12)  You can either live a life that either reflects the beauty of God’s truth, or one that obscures it.  Which will you choose?

 Humble Orthodoxy receives 5 stars from me.  It was a much-needed read at a highly appropriate time in my life.  Apparently, "Humble Orthodoxy" is the final chapter in Harris's "Dug Down Deep."  I didn't know that when I read it, but it doesn't change my opinion of its worth.

 

Disclaimer: I received this book free from Blogging for Books (Multnomah Publishers) in exchange for my unbiased review of it.  All opinions are mine.  I was not threatened or coerced in any way to provide a positive review.

MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD:

From an end-of-broadcast (2/24/13 episode) Q&A between the host of Star Talk Live!, Neil deGrasse Tyson (NDT) and his guest, Dr. David Grinspoon (DG), an astrobiologist, the following quotes are their thoughts regarding our human uniqueness.

NDT: "So, what are the prospects for life on the exoplanets (planets beyond our solar system), then, that now join the catalogs of what we know to exist in the galaxy?"

DG: "I would say almost 100%.  In other words, if you believe there's no life on any exoplanet, then it's almost like being a creationist -- you have to think that there's something so special, so remarkable about earth that's not going to be met anywhere in the billions and billions of worlds out there.  And that just seems incredibly unlikely.  If that were true it would mean there's something astounding about this planet, but nothing that we've learned about the history of life, about what we think we've learned about the origin of life, about the conditions for it suggest that that's true."

A few minutes later, Mr. Tyson offered some concluding remarks.
NDT: "The cool thing about the universe is something can be rare, yet common. So something can happen one in a million stars, but when you have 400 billion stars it's happening all the time in the galaxy.  And so the good thing about the universe is you can appeal to the shear scale of the cosmos to improve the likelihood of finding that which is otherwise highly improbable.  ...  When you have a galaxy with hundreds of billions of stars and a universe of nearly a hundred billion galaxies then it's just a matter of where you're looking and how long it takes before you find something else just like what you wanted to find.  And so I would say yes 100% chance of finding life because the universe doesn't make anything in ones."

The two engaged in dialogue while a panel of 3 comedians provided humorous side-commentary.  The truly interesting part is that the group spent nearly an hour talking about all the highly unique qualities of planet earth.  For instance, our relative proximity to the sun (not to far to freeze, nor too close to burn), the proper mixtures of life-sustaining gases, the existence of water, etc. 

If evolution is a formula of time (and lots of it) plus matter plus chance, then it happens that we are, in fact, special, even from an evolutionary perspective.  We are literally one in a billion, and scientists are proving it every day.  However, we're unique not simply because we live on one planet among many, but because we have been made in the image of God, the imago Dei.

Contrary to what astro-physicists may say, there is, in fact, something astounding about human life.  I certainly do not intend to detract from all they've learned as a profession.  After all, I find their discoveries extremely fascinating.  They have pulled back a small corner of the sheet of our universe to show just how grand it is.  And those discoveries serve to show just how grand our Great Creator is.  I appreciate the astro-physicists and biologists, because they confirm how astounding we are.  I simply hope they can stop resisting the God who created them.

Photograph sources: Our Progress and Yahoo!